Aluminium Bifold & Bifolding Doors UK

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bifold doors Stoke-on-Trent

express bifold doors Experts in Stoke-on-Trent

BIOFOLD Material

Aluminium is a fabulous, highly durable, low maintenance material. It is available in a vast range of colours, wood effect and metallic finishes. It needs only to be washed occasionally to keep it clean and looking new.

Aluminium is less expensive than timber options, but some Stoke-on-Trent properties – especially period and listed properties where existing fenestration is traditional – may not be entirely suited to aluminium or even meet planning guidelines.

PVCu is the least expensive option. It is available in a range of colours and finishes, but responsible bifold door manufacturers would not recommend anything other than a standard white PVCu finish. This is because colour and finishes can cause instability to this material when in conjunction with the movement of the bifolding door.

PVCu is easy to maintain, does not last as long as aluminium, but will still look beautiful after several years. Good quality, modern PVCu can complement white timber windows and doors very well.

Timber bifolding doors in Stoke-on-Trent can be built in hardwood or in laminated (engineered) timber. Engineered timber is designed to outlast other timber products as it is formed from layer upon layer of hardwood, preventing water from becoming trapped within the wood where it can causing twisting and shrinking and eventual damage. The fold and slide nature of bifolding doors means that they are highly sensitive to any alteration of shape and weight distribution and this will result in stress on the gearing, poor performance and eventual breakdown.

In South facing, exposed or coastal areas laminated timber is recommended over hardwood for this reason. All timber bifold doors can be factory painted in an infinite range of colours and this should assure a guarantee of long durability of the finish and low maintenance.

BIOFOLD Opening Configurations

A flexible supplier of bespoke doors in Stoke-on-Trent will be able to offer all possible configuration options to suit your aperture, but there will be technical limitations. Each panel has to be attached to the track, which affects which doors can be free one side to open. Options can include a single opening door at either end or anywhere it makes physical sense along the track. It is possible to use two of the doors as french doors in the conventional way whilst the remainder of the panels are closed as long as there are enough panels.

Size and Number of Bifolding Panels

Panel size is dictated by material and is essentially weight related. Once glazed, these doors are very heavy and too much weight can affect their performance. If narrow, the panels will become too bulky to fold and slide and will be cumbersome when stacked away.

The standard maximum width of an aluminium bifold door is 1000mm and there are height restrictions which, if exceeded, may cause issues and customers will be expected to sign a disclaimer. PVCu may be lighter than aluminium, but because it is not as strong, a good bifolding door company will ensure that all of its PVCu bifolds are reinforced with steel, thus making it heavier.

The number of panels a door comprises should be flexible if custom built. Generally, however, fewer panels in a door makes for better visibility. In addition, the price per square metre increases in line with the number of panels owing to the additional material, engineering, hinges, security and thermal requirements.

Bifold Gearing

Gearing quality is critical to door durability and performance. Unfortunately, it is also the feature you may not be able to qualify yourself. For this reason, if you do not know of a bifold door specialist, it is recommended that you use either a reputable company experienced in supplying bifold doors or a reliable builder or architect to specify the door. Choosing a product on price frequently leads to disappointment.

Thresholds

All bifold doors are most weatherproof when incorporating a normal threshold – no matter what manufacturers say to the contrary. By its very nature, a low threshold bi-folding door is subject to some water and draught ingres in severe conditions. Low thresholds are fabulous for disabled access and level access to, for example, a garden, but consider your property’s aspect, your geographical location and local weather patterns before making a decision. And as an extra precaution, lay water resistant flooring immediately inside a low threshold.

Bifold Doors Glazing

Glazing should be 28mm K glass or equivalent and is always double glazed. It can be obscured if required, self-cleaning and have heat resistant film applied if in direct sunlight. Increasingly popular are internal blinds which are very attractive, but which are new on the market and have no history on which to stake their durability.

How to Buy a Bifold Door

Overview - Clearly bifolding doors are not a cheap alternative to the traditional sliding door, but what are the real gains in making the extra investment. The most apparent is the fact that folding sliding doors are fully retractable. The commonly known French door is just a permutation of a bifolding door and most bifolding door manufacturers will be able to make their system into a french door. A French door is a double pane system which opens in the middle so the both leafs are fully open and set at right angles to the track. They have been very popular over the years and can allow for an elegant opening mechanism with great clear glass views. Please find the strengths and weaknesses of the bifolding door below.

Bifolding Door - Strengths

Fully retractable door panels

Choice of Aluminium and UPVC frames

Up to 10 metres wide

Add value to any home

Choice of over 400 RAL colours (Aluminium frames)

Up to 40 opening options

Well tested and regulated products

Bifolding Door - Weaknesses

More expensive than traditional alternative

UPVC frames can contract due to weather conditions

Must be installed with precision

UPVC frames are weak and are not capable of reaching widths more than 6 metres

Bifold doors now form part of almost all new build home extensions due to their ability to open up large unobstructed openings allowing the new living space to seamlessly merge with the garden.

The enormous growth in demand for these folding sliding doors in the UK in recent years has led to a substantial increase in the number and type of different door systems now available to the consumer. They are now widely available in a choice of materials and finishes with the three most popular being thermally broken aluminium, upvc and hardwood.

Choosing the right bifold door for your project is an important decision and one that should not be taken purely based on cost alone. Your budget will naturally have an influence on your buying decision but there are other important factors that need serious consideration to ensure you are not disappointed with your purchase. Here are the top five points that are regarded by many as the most essential research when considering a bifold door purchase:

1. THERMAL PERFORMANCE

Since most bifold door installations will be subject to compliance with building regulations it is important to check that the folding door you are about to buy will meet your local authority's interpretation of current building regulations in terms of overall U-value performance. This calculation is based on the specification of the double glazing together with the profile design and dimensions to determine the insulation benefits of the door measured in U-values with the lower the value the better the insulation achieved. The minimum acceptable under current building regulations for replacement doors is a 1.8 U-value but some local authorities will insist on lower values particularly for new build extensions.

2. GLASS SIGHT LINES

Another important consideration should be the sight line or width of door profiles between each panel of the folding sliding door as this will affect the visible glass area available when the door is in the closed position. Most bifold doors are designed with dedicated profiles to minimise these sightlines as much as possible but some timber and many upvc folding doors use wide, chunky profiles that produce very broad sight lines in excess of 200mm wide that will ultimately spoil your view.

3. SECURITY

Most folding doors will feature a high security locking system but many still use face fixed or flag hinges that can pose a possible security issue and allow the hinges to be removed from the outside when the door is closed. Some upvc bifold doors may also use an exposed gearing system that is accessible from the outside of the door when the door is closed which can also pose a possible security threat. You can eliminate these potential security problems by ensuring you choose a folding door that has fully concealed gearing and hinge fixings.

4. THRESHOLDS

Although a flush threshold is the most popular option especially for internal bifold doors this may not always be practical in some cases and a conventional raised threshold will need to be used. It is important to note that the height of these can vary considerably with some upvc bifold door thresholds exceeding 125mm. Such a high 'step-over' threshold may create an accessibility issue for children and the older generation. The latest bifold door designs offer raised thresholds designed to minimise the trip hazard with some offering thresholds as low as 50mm high.

5. TOP HUNG OR BOTTOM ROLLING

Some bifold doors are hung from the top to allow for a minimal threshold at floor level but with all the weight of the door being supported from the top a substantial upgrade of the lintel is normally required for strength and stability. Bottom rolling folding doors are a cost effective and popular alternative since the weight of the door is carried at ground level rather than suspended from the lintel.

Whether you decide on an aluminium, upvc or hardwood bifold door it is a major purchase for your project and one that should be carefully considered to ensure the very best value for your money. Buying a cheap bifold door may prove a disappointment unless you check carefully that the door you are buying will meet your needs and expectations before you order.

Ultra Slim Bifold Doors

There are many benefits of using bi-folding doors when finishing, renovating or remodeling an interior space. They can come in any design to fit a particular design style. A bi-fold door is a set of panels that has two or more hinged sections, usually folding in pairs. The doors can be opened from either side for one pair, or fold both sides for several pairs.

Larger bi-fold door systems are used as room dividers, barn doors, and even airplane hangar doors. They are usually hung from overhead tracks and suspended by rollers or casters. The innermost door panel has a knob or a door-pull which allows the user to fold the door panels together.

Bi-fold doors eliminate the problem of supporting a large overhead door in a commercial garage or airplane hangar with a low threshold options that offer unrestricted floor space. These doors can be hung in a series, making them ideal as room dividers. The same tracking used for sliding door systems can also be incorporated into bi-fold doors. The design of a bi-fold door allows the panels to fold on themselves without changing the orientation of the suspended casters or rollers. Because the tracks and casters receive some unusual stresses from the opening and closing action, bigger and heavier bi-fold doors are usually equipped with pivot floor tracks to prevent the panels from swinging and to add structural stability.

There are many different types of bi-folding doors currently on the market. Wood used to be the most widely used material, but now doors are also made of metal or glass. Some of them are available with a raised panel, flat panel, v-groove panel or as glass French doors.

Arguably, quite a few years ago, the most popular was the louvered door. A louvered door has stationary or movable wooden slats, or louvers, which permit open ventilation while allowing privacy and preventing passage of light to the interior. They can create dramatic sliding sashes to open up a room or building without reducing thermal or weather resistance.

Louvered bi-fold doors are usually used for closets and laundry rooms where ventilation is required. Smaller louvered bi-fold doors are also commonly used to form window shutters in many businesses and homes. Although bi-fold doors are not intended to secure things as a sturdy front door does, bi-folds can be used all around a home as interior shutters in place of curtains. This is not only an ideal solution for people with dust allergies but they can also provide maximum privacy when closed and floods space with light when open.

Other popular bi-fold doors are the mirror-paneled bi-folds. These are usually found in bedrooms and bathrooms of the home. Mirrored bi-folds may act as full-body mirrors and that is one of the traits that make them a favorite in the wardrobe area. Also specially effective in small spaces, mirrored bi-fold doors provide the illusion of having a bigger space when closed, yet allow maximum use of space in homes, restaurants, hotels, bars, or other interior spaces when opened.

With the advancement of technology doors are produced to be more energy efficient and attractive. Thermally broken aluminium Bi-folding doors are now designed to allow for maximal airflow through an opening. This Bi-folding mechanism is constructed using a chassis in which the movable parts strategically positioned so that the elements can be folded both left and right.

It is no wonder that new designs like the Visofold Panorama, which offers a slim line design; weather proof and virtually maintenance free, are used in homes, hotels, restaurants and stores for its space saving features.

Generally, having bi-fold doors installed is relatively inexpensive. However, the cost of having bi-fold doors can vary depending on the size, materials, and labour. Aside from all the benefits of using bi-folding doors, some can actually be installed by the homeowner themselves.